The Telluride Foundation has created two distinct COVID-19 Response Funds. The first fund Regional Response Fund will rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the front lines of the outbreak and vulnerable individuals and families directly impacted in the Telluride region, including San Miguel, Ouray, west Montrose counties and Rico. The Fund will prioritize the most immediate public health needs and economic impacts of the new disease, focusing on vulnerable populations and the service providers that support them. The Foundation will allocate some of its reserves and planned 20^th Anniversary Celebration budget towards meeting these unprecedented community needs.

The second fund, Ouray County Response Fund has been set up specifically to support individuals residing in Ouray County. Donations to this fund are being matched dollar for dollar (up to $200,000) through the generosity of a donor who resides in Ouray County. Visit the Foundation’s  COVID-19 Community Resource page to learn how Ouray County residents may apply for support through this fund.

Contributions to either the Regional or Ouray County Response funds can be made by clicking the DONATE button below. When making your donation you may select to support one of these two specific funds by using the drop down menu. If you have questions or wish to speak with one of our staff or need help facilitating a donation by check, cash wire, or stock transfer can contact Courtney Groves at 970-728-8717 or courtney@telluridefoundation.org.

Hosted by Telluride Foundation, the COVID-19 Regional Response Fund will provide flexible resources to organizations and individuals working within our communities that are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and the economic consequences of the outbreak. The Fund is designed to complement the work of public health officials and expand local capacity to address all aspects of the outbreak as efficiently as possible. The Telluride Foundation will administer grants to qualified nonprofits, and emergency hardship grants to individuals.

In order to move resources quickly and not further burden organizations on the front lines of the pandemic, we will provide simplified and flexible application processes. Funds will be released on a rolling basis as funds are raised, continuing throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis.  Overall, the Fund will be managed so that we can respond rapidly to community demands and adapt to evolving needs in subsequent funding phases.

The Fund will address to emergency tracks as follows:

In the near-term, one-time operating grants will fund organizations that have deep roots within priority populations and services, such as human service and health nonprofits facing unprecedented, unexpected situations due to the COVID-19.  We anticipate that healthcare facilities, food banks, homeless shelters, as well as programs serving school-aged kids on free and reduced lunch or providing  access to the internet for distance learning will need financial help.

We are aware that many resident families and individuals may have short-term emergency financial needs due to illness, health care costs, lack of work, or having to care for children or family members.  The Foundation has operated the “Good Neighbor Fund (GNF),” for 15 years; GNF is a one-time emergency hardship funding program available for the workforce in San Miguel, Ouray, and west Montrose counties.  We will expand this resource and target GNF towards our communities most vulnerable individuals and families.

Please consider a donation to support our local community.

We will provide regular updates as the situation evolves. To stay up to date visit our web site often or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or suggestions.

To read the Telluride Foundation’s full response to COVID-19 click here.

Paul Major

President & CEO Telluride Foundation